Police name man found dead in the Waikato

Police have released the name of a man whose body was found at a rural property in the Waikato on Sunday.

James Jock Moana, 44, was found at an address north of Ngaruawhaia about 11am.

Detective Inspector Karl Thornton of the Waikato CIB said a post-mortem carried out yesterday showed the Ngaruawahia beneficiary died as a result of injuries inflicted during an altercation.

Mr Thornton confirmed police had launched a homicide investigation.

"We've been speaking to a number of people who were present at a party held at the property where Mr Moana lived, the night before he died and understand he was involved in an altercation that night," Mr Thorton said.

A 38-year-old man has been arrested and charged with assault in relation to the altercation and appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday.

Mr Thornton said Mr Moana was best known to associates as Jock or Jimmy.